# Heat waves and the elderly: reducing thermal and cardiovascular consequences

> **NIH NIH R01** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $574,193

## Abstract

Abstract
Heat waves are lethal and cause a disproportionate number of deaths in the elderly relative to any other age
group. It is important to note that such deaths are primarily cardiovascular, not hyperthermia itself, in origin.
Nevertheless, we know relatively little about the effects of aging on cardiovascular function during actual heat
wave-like conditions. The central hypothesis of this work is that the elderly exhibit greater cardiovascular
stress during heat wave conditions, which can be mitigated by employing low-energy demand cooling
strategies. Aim 1 will test the hypothesis that recognized impairments in thermoregulatory capacity in the elderly
will culminate in heightened cardiovascular stress during prolonged exposure to heat wave conditions.
Comprehensive cardiovascular and thermal responses in the elderly, relative to younger adults, will be evaluated
during exposure to two prolonged heat wave conditions: hot and humid (replicating the 1995 Chicago heat wave),
very hot and dry (replicating the 2018 Los Angeles heat wave). Aim 2 will test the hypothesis that skin wetting is
an effective cooling modality to attenuate elevations in core body temperature and accompanying cardiovascular
stress during heat waves in the elderly, while the use of a fan may be detrimental depending on air temperature
and whether skin wetting is employed. Though air conditioning is the most effective strategy to prevent heat-
related morbidity and mortality, 1 in 8 (~12%) Americans do not have access to air conditioners, and this
percentage is likely higher in the Midwest and Northeast United States where injury and deaths during heat
waves are particularly high. Moreover, factors such as socio-economic status, power outages, government-
imposed rolling blackouts, and COVID-19 related closures of public spaces (e.g., malls, libraries, senior centers,
etc.) threaten region-wide access to air conditioning often at times when it is most needed. Therefore, it is
essential to identify non-air conditioning dependent modalities that will attenuate excessive elevations in core
body temperature and associated cardiovascular stress in the elderly during heat wave conditions. This aim will
assess the efficacy of skin wetting only, fan use only, and a combination of skin wetting and fan use in mitigating
excessive elevations in core body temperature and associated cardiovascular stress in the elderly during both
types of heat waves outlined in Aim 1. The expected outcomes from this body of work will re-shape our
understanding of the consequences of aging on cardiovascular function during heat waves, as well as identify
the efficacy of low-energy cooling modalities directed towards saving the lives of this vulnerable population during
heat wave exposure.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10209409
- **Project number:** 1R01AG069005-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** CRAIG G CRANDALL
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $574,193
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10209409

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10209409, Heat waves and the elderly: reducing thermal and cardiovascular consequences (1R01AG069005-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10209409. Licensed CC0.

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